"Our job now is to get Windows XP done," Ballmer told a news conference at a technology meeting on Monday. "With a little bit of luck, we should have it ready by Friday."
If Microsoft's programmers are able to ship the final code to manufacturers by Friday, that would put the software giant on track to release Windows XP as planned in October.

Some industry-watchers have questioned whether government regulators, citing antitrust concerns, would try to block Windows XP's release or at least request that it be altered.

The newest version of Windows bundles more features than ever before — including instant messaging, digital photography and personal firewall applications.

That's prompted complaints from politicians and competitors that Microsoft is again using its muscle to stifle competition, a practice that led to a U.S. federal court ruling finding it guilty of being an illegal monopoly.

A U.S. district judge is now due to hold hearings on what penalties Microsoft should face for antitrust violations. Microsoft, which on Friday lost an appeal to delay the case, also has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

Ballmer said Monday that Microsoft is eager to settle the antitrust case, and brushed off the idea that Microsoft is a monopoly.

"I don't know what a monopoly is until somebody tells me," he said.

Microsoft's job is "to try and create products that people want," he said. "We don't want 10 percent of people to want our product, we want everyone to want our product."
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Manu Narayan